Easton Area School District administrators outline budget plans

PALMER TWP. | School district officials outlined plans Thursday during a workshop meeting at Easton Area High School for adjusting to a proposed budget that slashes 85 jobs.

The proposed $131.5 million budget would raising taxes 2.35 percent and cut 70 teachers, six administrative positions and nine support staffers. Bucks County taxpayers will see a 3.46 percent tax increase.

The budget cuts middle school sports, the Cheston Elementary School full-day kindergarten program, the Accreditation for Growth department and teacher reimbursement for after-school programs.

Easton Area School District Athletic Director Jim Pokrivsak suggested a plan that would cut some middle school basketball and wrestling programs. The plan was one of six options discussed by Pokrivsak and an ad hoc committee.

He estimated the district could add about $170,000 in revenue next year by increasing ticket prices $1 and charging seniors the student ticket price.

Pokrivsak also suggested cutting complimentary tickets, which cost the district $17,500.

One of the committee's options did nothing to restore middle school sports, which board member Kerry Meyers decried as "counting money" and doing nothing to address students' needs.

Tom Drago, the district's technology director, said the duties and responsibilities of 12 classroom technology coordinators proposed to be cut from the budget will be distributed to three technology employees.

One each will be responsible for the seven elementary schools, the middle school and the high school, he said, which was met with laughter from someone in the audience.

Building principals, secretaries, librarians and teachers will assume more responsibilities, Drago said.

"We worked long and hard on this plan to make it work," he said. "Will students get the same level of service? Of course not. But we will try to make it work."

The district also proposes outsourcing some of its lower attendance senior advanced placement courses to Northampton Community College. Education consultant William Duffy said a proposed three-year partnership would see AP statistics, calculus II, psychology and computer science offered at the college.

The district would pick up the estimated $310 per course that would be accepted at any college or university in the state, according to Duffy. Projected enrollment stands at 87 students.

High school AP statistics teacher Beth Chen questioned the wisdom of sending seniors to NCC.

Some parents called for the restoration of technology coordinators and reading specialist jobs.

Students noted the high school's 17 Freddy nominations, while questioning the wisdom of cuts to the music programs. And one teacher said the school board can make budget cuts if they "want education to take a nosedive."

The school board is expected to vote Thursday on a final budget.